Rhinoceros have lived for millions of years and are believed to be one of the most primitive species on earth. These were the first animals that developed hooves-like modifications on their four legs. These set of animals were called paenungulates. They later evolved into protungulates or the “first hooved animals”. This finally led to the evolution of rhinos along with horses and tapirs. They were grouped together under perissodactyls. This is believed to have occurred some fifty million years ago during the Eocene period.

During the Oligocene period, thirty million years ago, rhinoceros split up into two different species and migrated to two different parts of the world. One species moved over to India. Today, it is popularly referred to as the Indian one horned rhinoceros. The other species moved over to Africa and is famously called the two horned rhinoceros. These African rhinos were further divided into two sub groups namely white and black horned rhinos. Ten million years ago, these animals were in their peak in terms of population and were abundantly scattered all over. The white rhinos are believed to be younger by five to six million years in terms of evolution, when compared to their black horned counterparts.

Rhinos thrived in numerous other regions as well before becoming extinct. Large fossils have been unearthed in various parts of North America and Eurasia. These species resembled the present day animals and were good swimmers too. They lived during the Oligocene period. Their fossils portray a common feature: none of the animals had horns.

Kazakhstan is believed to have the world’s largest ever recorded rhino fossil. These were scientifically called Indricotherium asiaticum and are believed to be thirty-five million years old.

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